Jake Casey

Syracuse, NY | Corps de Ballet | Joined Cincinnati Ballet in 2014

Jake Casey was born in Syracuse, New York, where he began his training with Kathleen Rathbun at the Syracuse City Ballet. He then moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to train on scholarship at the Rock School for Dance Education. During his summers, he studied on scholarship with Boston Ballet and at the Chautauqua Institution. Casey danced as a corps de ballet member with Ballet Idaho during their 13-14 season. Under the artistic direction of Peter Anastos, he performed principal and soloist roles. Casey was a 2013 NYC Finalist for the Youth American Grand Prix. He also competed nationally as a Level ten gymnast with USA Gymnastics, where he was an academic All-American. Casey joined Cincinnati Ballet in 2014 in the Corps de Ballet. In 2015, he choreographed a piece for the Inaugural Cincinnati Ballet Choreography Workshop. During the Summer of 2015, Casey danced at the National Choreographer’s Initiative in Irvine, CA. As a guest teacher and artist, Jake has instructed and danced at institutions all around the country.

Sponsors: Ed Deeley

Fun Fact: Jake has partnered with an Indian Clothing brand named Spunk. Based out of New Delhi, Casey is a world ambassador for their brand. He will be performing in Mumbai, India later this year!

When Jake was eight, he traveled with his gymnastics team throughout Europe and to Orlando, Florida.

Touchet will never forget her 19th birthday. That was the day Victoria Morgan came to Pacific Northwest Ballet, to audition Touchet’s professional division. “Directors from everywhere auditioned us, but nobody ever picked me,” she says. “I remember thinking she wouldn’t like me anyway, so I told myself to just have fun, and after it was over, she said, ‘I’d like to talk to Janessa’.” Crossed wires with communicating Touchet’s acceptance of Morgan’s apprenticeship offer led to a planned spot with Memphis Ballet, but Morgan called one last time and Touchet was able to come to Cincinnati Ballet instead. “It was meant to be here. I started as an Apprentice and moved all the way through the ranks. I had always had my heart and mind set on Cincinnati Ballet.”